Injury time heartbreak for Blues

Blues went down to a harsh defeat when a 92nd minute goal from Chris Ovington won the points for the home side.

Picture by Peter Ryan

The match was played in un-seasonal conditions with a strong wind blowing down the pitch for most of the game,
Ossett Town played with the wind in the first half and not surprisingly had the better chances, with Chris Ovington having a couple of chances early on.

First chance for Blues came on 14 minutes, when a surging run in to the box from Danny Wilkins ended with a poor clearance to Mike Aspin whose shot was blocked by a defender.

A blow for Blues came on 18 minutes when Simon Garner picked up a foot injury in a 50/50 challenge and after playing on for ten minutes, he had to be substituted by Danny Morton.

Ossett went ahead on 27 minutes and the wind played a huge part. Ovington's cross looked harmless enough until the wind caught it and went over Matt Green and off the crossbar. Josh Whiteley was the man on the spot to bundle the ball across the line.

Right on half time came Blues best chance when from James Walker's in-swinging free kick was powerfully headed by Steve Mercer and Ossett keeper Sam Dobbs pulled off a brilliant save.

Half time: Ossett Town 1 Clitheroe 0

Second half with the wind in our favour, saw the Blues level on 52 minutes. Liam Hutchinson controlled the ball well and hit a low shot from 25 yards which deceived Dobbs and ended up in the bottom corner of the goal.

Blues were then in the ascendancy and almost took the lead on 70 minutes. A superb through ball from Wilkins found sub Peter Dunkerley whose final touch went past Dobbs and was going in, until it was cleared off the line by an Ossett defender.

Despite the greater possession, Blues only had a couple more half chances for Dunkerley and Morton. When it looked liked a well earned point had been gained, the home side won the points two minutes in to stoppage time. Ovington took the ball in to the box and his shot from a tight angle was good enough to cross the line despite Matt Green's efforts to stop it.

A cruel way to finish and the Blues players were understandably dejected at the full time whistle.